The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Six Years of First Place Winners

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh proudly announces that two Media Arts & Animation students have earned the first-place title in a national animation competition sponsored by Hewlitt Packard and Saytek.

Pittsburgh students Patrick Bannan and Thomas Netzband won an all-expenses paid trip to Siggraph 2006, one of the world’s largest computer graphics conventions, held this year in Boston.

The winning animated short is titled “Snowday.” The piece was six months in production and was created as an academic study. The short is a light-hearted short story about a young boy’s excitement upon waking up to a school-cancellation followed by his race to get outside. The character, Avery, finds himself in a physical conflict with his freshly built snowman-come-to-life. Avery’s character was designed by Patrick Bannan, who also did the modeling and texturing for the piece. Tom Netzband created the rigging for the character, as well as the scene animation. Two recent graduates also assisted in the development of Snowday. Their preliminary team also included Jesse O’Brien and Ed Gonzalez, who now works for a company who produces animated simulations for firefighting training courses.

Patrick Bannan is from Owosso, MI and Tom Netzband is from Syracuse, NY. Both students will graduate in September 2006 and hope to begin successful animation careers. Patrick’s got his options open but hopes to ultimately specialize in serious games that yield positive social impact. Tom wishes to specialize in character animation for film and is already working for Psychology Software Tools, a Pittsburgh-based company that creates virtual environments for MRI patients.

Both students are thrilled for the opportunity to present their work at Siggraph 2006 just two months before they graduate. Patrick has been to the event before and understands the career opportunities before him, so he’s prepared. Tom is a first-timer and a little nervous. “I am a little overwhelmed, but it’s totally exhilarating,” he said. “When I first started at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I submitted one of my first animations to this contest and of course, I didn’t win. I can’t believe that only a few years later, I won!”

Students Art Institutes in 32 locations nationwide compete in the annual HP/Saytek Animation Competition. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has an impressive record with the competition in it’s 6-year history. The following winners of the competition came from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Where Are They Now?

Colin Whitney

Winner in 2000

Treyarch Studios in LA

Cody Pierson

Winner in 2001

NeverSoft

Justin Cook

Winner in 2002

World Wrestling in Massachusetts.

Anthony Terlizzi

Winner in 2002